"Even if you do
not confess, God is not ignorant of the deed, since he knew it before it was
committed. Why then do you not speak of it? Does the transgression become
heavier by the confession? No, it becomes lighter and less troublesome. And
this is why he wants you to confess: not that you should be punished, but that
you should be forgiven; not that he may learn your sin—how could that be, since
he has seen it?—but that you may learn what favor he bestows. He wishes you to
learn the greatness of his grace, so that you may praise him perfectly, that
you may be slower to sin, that you may be quicker to virtue. And if you do not
confess the greatness of the need, you will not understand the enormous
magnitude of his grace."
— St. John Chrysostom
Unless someone has zero conscience th e knowledge we carry of our sin can become a burden. Through confession we ask God to lift the burden which is the first step towards the ability to forgive ourselves.
ReplyDeleteSherry, Thank you for your response. I agree with your view. Ron
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